UFC on FOX: Melendez vs. Henderson – Preview, Predictions & Picks

The UFC heads to the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California this weekend and makes its return to Fox television with an excellent card that includes a championship fight, for UFC on FOX: Henderson vs. Melendez. This card is headlined by a battle between UFC Lightweight Champion Benson Henderson against Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez, which will essentially unify the belts (although Strikeforce no longer exists), and ultimately decide who is the best lightweight in the world. The card also boasts the promotional debut of highly touted heavyweight and former Strikeforce Grand Prix Champion Daniel Cormier, as he takes on former UFC Heavyweight Champion Frank Mir, in a fight which contains bad blood between the two opponents. The preliminaries are also loaded, I’m especially looking forward to Tim Means vs. Jorge Masvidal, which might be the hardest fight on the card to pick. Plus Darren Elkins vs. Chad Mendes. Those could easily be main card fights. The rest of the card is also absolutely stacked, so let’s get to the picks:

Matt Brown (16-11) vs. Jordan Mein (27-8) – Welterweight Bout – Matt Brown puts his impressive four fight winning streak on the line when he takes on dangerous Jordan Mein, who won his UFC debut last month by first round TKO over Dan Miller at UFC 158, and is already back in the octagon where he replaces an injured Dan Hardy on short notice. Brown is a UFC veteran, who was addicted to drugs and alcohol, and credits mixed martial arts for saving his life. He is one of the toughest guys on the UFC roster and has never been knocked out, all of his loses have come by way of submission or decision. Jordan Mein has been fighting since he was 11 years old, his father owned a promotion called Rumble in the Cage, and he has a lot of experience under his belt for a 23 year old. Although Mein has very dangerous power, I do not think he will be able to knock Brown out, and think he wins this fight by decision. THE PICK: Mein By Decision

Nate Diaz (16-8) vs. Josh Thomson (19-5-1) – Lightweight Bout – This is going to be an exciting fight, as the always entertaining and controversial Nate Diaz takes on San Jose native and dangerous kickboxer Josh Thomson. Thomson has fought in the UFC previously, but not since 2004, and has been fighting in Strikeforce since then. Two of Thomson’s five losses have come to Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez, who is in the main event on this card. Thomson is (1-2) against Melendez all-time. Remember that Melendez and Diaz are close friends and train together, so expect Diaz to enter this fight very prepared. Each of these fighter is coming off of a loss to a fighter who is on the main event of this card, as Nate Diaz lost to Benson Henderson for the UFC Lightweight Championship in December. This should be an exciting fight, which I expect to go the distance, because both of these fighters are so tough and have such incredible endurance. Due to his incredible boxing and ability to wear down his opponents with his nasty jab, I think Diaz does more damage and wins a decision. THE PICK: Diaz By Decision

Frank Mir (16-6) vs. Daniel Cormier (11-0) – Heavyweight Bout – This fight was supposed to happen in Strikeforce back in November, but Frank Mir had to pull out of the scheduled bout with an injury, and there has been a lot of trash talking and bad blood between the two since. It is put up or shut up time. Frank Mir is one of the most decorated Heavyweights in UFC history, and although his best days are behind him, he holds records for the most fights, wins and finishes ever in the Heavyweight division. When you look at the matchup, Mir has major advantages across the board, but Cormier has dealt with that in every fight in his career and he still stands unbeaten. Cormier has beaten Josh Barnett and the current number one contender for the UFC Heavyweight Title Bigfoot Silva, he is a thickly built, stout Olympic wrestler with heavy hands that knows how to use his frame. Mir is a submission expert, he is always dangerous and if Cormier gets sloppy and Mir gets hold of his arm or leg, the fight will end shortly after. However I like Cormier to hurt Mir and finish the fight with punches on the ground, stay unbeaten, and move up the ranks in the UFC Heavyweight Division. THE PICK: Cormier By TKO In The First Round

Gilbert Melendez (21-2) vs. (c) Benson Henderson (18-2) – Lightweight Championship Bout – Gilbert Melendez enters this bout on a seven fight winning streak, his last loss coming to Josh Thomson in 2008, and he is one of the most dangerous lightweights alive. He is an aggressive striker who trains with the Diaz brothers and can finish the fight at any time, his UFC debut comes with much anticipation. Benson Henderson enters this matchup on a six fight winning streak, he is undefeated in the UFC, and he has been dominant since he won the Lightweight Championship. If Melendez can hit Henderson and hurt him early, he has a chance to win this fight, and become the new champion. However, Henderson is such a good defensive fighter, and he is so strong for a lightweight that I have to give him the edge. I think Henderson controls the fight, dominates the action, and wins a decision. THE PICK: Henderson Winner By Decision And Still Champion